Pakistani officials say dangerously poor air quality has forced the provincial government in Lahore to close primary schools for a week.

Pakistan's second city of Lahore will close primary schools for a week over record pollution, government authorities said Sunday, to avoid exposing millions of children to smog several times above levels deemed dangerous.

The city of Lahore reported hazardous levels of air pollution on Sunday. Pakistani officials have blamed India for some of it.

Lahore has closed primary schools for a week as air quality reaches record hazardous levels, mandates face masks for residents.

Unprecedented air pollution in the Pakistani city of Lahore has forced authorities to close all primary schools for a week. From Monday, 50% of office workers will also work from home, as part of a "green lockdown" plan. Other measures include bans on engine-powered rickshaws and vendors that barbecue without filters.

The smog crisis in Lahore, similar to the situation in India's capital Delhi, tends to worsen during cooler months due to temperature inversion trapping pollution closer to the ground. Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. Sign up here.

Air quality in the city of 14 million people has breached levels considered "dangerous," prompting the government to close schools and urge citizens to stay indoors.

Toxic smog has shrouded Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore for days as surging pollution spurs authorities to curb activities and set up a panel to oversee preventive efforts.

The air quality index exceeded 1,000 on Nov 2, well above the level of 300 considered “dangerous”. Read more at straitstimes.com.

WHO